Netflix has made a change to a popular new crime documentary about twisted serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer after backlash.
Glamtush reports that since it has been released, Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story has sparked criticism with many people being forced to turn it off after being left “disturbed” by its gruesome content.
But there was an even bigger backlash from the LGBTQ community about one element of the show that prompted Netflix to change it.
This online newspaper understands that the docuseries reflects on the life of one of America’s most notorious serial killers, played by American Horror Story and X-Men star Evan Peters. Dahmer was a gay man who preyed on other men, choosing mostly black and Latino victims, picking them up at gay bars around Wisconsin.
He was dubbed the Milwaukee Monster and was convicted of the brutal murders of 17 male victims between 1978 and 1991, with many of his killings involving rape and cannibalism.
Some Netflix viewers noticed that the show had initially been tagged in the ‘LGBTQ’ category on the streaming site, alongside other tags ‘ominous’, ‘psychological’, ‘dark’ and ‘horror’.
Many viewers took to social media to call out the streaming giant on the label, with one person writing: “Netflix added the Jeffrey Dahmer series to the LGBTQ+ tag. I am gobsmacked.”
Another wrote: “I can’t believe that Netflix listed the new drama about Jeffrey Dahmer’s life in the LGBTQ entertainment section.”
Another person wrote: “Was jeffrey dahmer gay… this aint the lgbtq representation we wanted.”
However, six days after the show’s debut it appears that the LGBTQ tag has been removed from the show.
Dahmer was eventually arrested in July 1991 after one of his potential victims managed to escape and flagged down police. This led to the discovery of severed heads and body parts hidden in his Wisconsin apartment.
After the discovery, Dahmer was imprisoned in 1992 and given 15 life sentences before a fellow inmate beat him to death two years later at the age of 34.
Since his heinous crimes were uncovered, Dahmer has been the subject of many books, films and television shows, joining the likes of Charles Manson and Ted Bundy as one of the world’s most infamous killers.
Netflix’s new ten-part true crime series tells Dahmer’s shocking tale from the perspective of his victims and highlights the failings of the authorities, which allowed him to continue his killing spree for 13 years.
Since its debut on Wednesday, September 21, viewers have taken to social media to voice their disgust at the “genuinely horrifying series,” saying it is “really hard to watch.”
One Twitter user wrote: “This Dahmer series is one of the most disturbing things I have ever watched and I feel like I have a pretty high threshold. Not sure I’m gonna be able to finish it.”
Another said: “I just tried watching that new Jeffrey Dahmer show and I had to shut it off the energy it was giving was so dark.”
“I’ve watched the first four episodes and I cannot sleep! In fact I’m pretty sure I will never sleep again! It’s defo not for the faint hearted,” said a third.
